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Task complexity modulates pilot electroencephalographic activity during real flights
Author(s) -
Di Stasi Leandro L.,
DiazPiedra Carolina,
Suárez Juan,
McCamy Michael B.,
MartinezConde Susana,
RocaDorda Joaquín,
Catena Andrés
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12419
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , takeoff , task (project management) , psychology , cognition , cognitive psychology , audiology , neuroscience , engineering , medicine , systems engineering , aerospace engineering
Most research connecting task performance and neural activity to date has been conducted in laboratory conditions. Thus, field studies remain scarce, especially in extreme conditions such as during real flights. Here, we investigated the effects of flight procedures of varied complexity on the in‐flight EEG activity of military helicopter pilots. Flight procedural complexity modulated the EEG power spectrum: highly demanding procedures (i.e., takeoff and landing) were associated with higher EEG power in the higher frequency bands, whereas less demanding procedures (i.e., flight exercises) were associated with lower EEG power over the same frequency bands. These results suggest that EEG recordings may help to evaluate an operator's cognitive performance in challenging real‐life scenarios, and thus could aid in the prevention of catastrophic events.